About

As the sole in-house lawyer supporting aerospace and defense specialist Cobham’s North American business, Bruce Almquist says it is his ability to continually reinvent himself which sets him apart. This manifested itself first of all when he left private practice to become an outsourcing lawyer at Electronic Data Systems (EDS). When Almquist joined Cobhams in what was primarily a compliance role, his first task was establishing a compliance program for contracting with the US Government. In time, his remit broadened to include a full spectrum of legal work, including investigations, M&A and employment, culminating in his promotion to become the region’s first GC. Moving from a specialist to a generalist legal role of this kind, he says, has been both rewarding and a steep learning curve. ‘The transition is still underway, and I’m not going to hold myself out as an expert in all of those areas, but over the years I have obtained a lot more knowledge so that I can spot issues and do some triage.’ Praised for his work ethic, Almquist ‘cares deeply about quality, efficiency and decency’, according to Michael Feldberg of Allen & Overy LLP, who adds: ‘As one of a small handful of lawyers responsible for the legal function of a multi-billion dollar company in a complex industry, Bruce has to deal daily with an incredible variety of legal issues’. Almquist was also nominated for the company’s ‘Senior Development Program’; the 18-month scheme, which he is currently completing, is intended to develop individuals in senior positions at Cobham. During his time at EDS, Almquist helped to organize the business’s European legal support to help establish a global function. When asked what law firms could improve upon, Almquist suggests not only ‘cost-efficiency’, but also ‘getting to the point quickly’. ‘Options are good to know, but I also need them to step up and make a recommendation on what I should do or the business should do’.